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Shhh . . . the library is open
"The John Spoor Broome Library is a structure whose contents and digital resources will certainly serve the university's students, faculty, staff and members of the community for decades to come," university president Richard Rush said. The threestory, 137,000square-foot, $62-million library houses 75,000 bound books and more than 180,000 electronic books, CDs and DVDs. The library also features seven classrooms. In addition, students can access 32,000 digital images of art history, biology and environmental science, materials that support classes and majors taught on campus. Library Dean Paul Adalian said students can retrieve the digitized images over the Internet, allowing them to study a reference article or view a movie their professor assigned at any time or place conducive to their learning style. Previously, students had to wait their turn for an item in limited supply to become available. Award-winning architect Lord Norman Foster designed the new library and integrated existing structures of 1930s Mission- and Spanish-style architecture with the clean lines of metal, glass and concrete. Construction began in 2005 and was completed recently. A large canopy and reflecting pool greet library visitors. Interior features include skylights, glass panels, balconies and railings. A large reading room is situated under a translucent glass ceiling. To cut down on the need for new construction materials and to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills, the university, which wants to be known as a "green campus," had 100 percent recyclable carpet and backing installed, made use of natural light and refashioned existing structures for new uses. - Michelle Knight |
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